Report: Sox may sign veteran infielder Vizquel

Apparently looking for more experience to backup their young infield, the White Sox reportedly are close to signing veteran Omar Vizquel, according to FoxSports.com.

Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports was the first to report the club was negotiating with the 42-year-old shortstop, and two other Internet reports have confirmed the negotiations.

Vizquel, an 11-time Gold Glove winner from Venezuela, appeared in 62 games for the Texas Rangers last season, playing short, third and second. The White Sox have said they plan to move Gordon Beckham to second and leave Alexei Ramirez at shortstop, with newly acquired Mark Teahen getting a shot at third base.

According to FoxSports, they could offer Vizquel about $1 million for the one-year deal.

In the meantime, the Sox have added five players to the roster, purchasing the contracts of outfielder Stefan Gartrell and right-handed pitchers Brandon Hynick, Brian Omogrosso and Sergio Santos from Class AAA Charlotte and right-hander Santo Luis from Class A Winston-Salem.

Gartrell, 25, combined to hit .281 (133-474) with 31 doubles, 23 home runs and 89 RBI in 132 games last season between Class AA Birmingham and Charlotte. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder, a 31st round selection in the 2006 draft, led Sox minor leaguers in RBI and tied for second in home runs.

Hynick, 24, was acquired from Colorado on Aug. 31 in exchange for pitcher Jose Contreras. He went 11-9 with a 3.72 ERA (67 ER/162.0 IP) and two complete games in 27 starts last season with Class AAA Colorado Springs and Charlotte. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder made one start for the Knights, allowing 1 run on 4 hits over 7.0 IP.

Hynick was named by Baseball America as the California League Pitcher of the Year in 2007 and the Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year in 2006. He was drafted by the Rockies in the eighth round in 2006.

Omogrosso, 25, spent most of 2009 with Birmingham, going 7-2 with a 4.19 ERA (34 ER/73.0 IP) and 64 strikeouts in 13 starts. He also made four relief appearances with Charlotte. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Omogrosso was selected by the White Sox in the fifth round of the 2006 draft.

Santos, 26, was converted into a pitcher before the 2009 season after spending his first seven minor league campaigns as a shortstop. He combined to go 0-3 with a 8.16 ERA (26 ER/28.2 IP) in 26 relief appearances between Class A Kannapolis, Winston-Salem, Birmingham and Charlotte last season. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Santos originally was selected by Arizona in the first round (27th overall) of the 2002 draft.

Luis, 25, spent the 2009 season at Winston-Salem, going 5-4 with a 4.34 ERA (27 ER/56.0 IP), 14 saves and 79 strikeouts in 47 relief appearances. Luis, 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, averaged 12.7 strikeouts per 9.0 IP. He was selected from Houston in the 2007 Rule 5 Draft.

With the moves, the White Sox 40-man roster is at 37.